Contrave and Tiredness: What Users Say

• Ast...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 8, 2025

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "Started taking Contrave 7 days ago. Took the 1st dose at 11 am. Felt dizzy and tired. Now I take it at bedtime, and I have no side effects. I have been on Wellbutrin before and tolerated it well, so I guess I had a head start. It seems to be curbing my appetite and my wine urges! Lol So far, so good."

• Ste...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 4, 2023

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "This pill was recommended to me by my doctor to help lose weight and control cravings. I was shocked at how expensive it was, $300 for a month! I cringed buying this but knew it was important for my health. I only lasted four days on this before I NEEDED to quit. Within four days, this drug ruined my life (temporarily). The nausea, brain fog, dizziness, and exhaustion were SO bad I felt like a zombie and that I wasn’t even here those days. I felt like I was on a roller coaster and I couldn’t get off. It was awful. I do have to say my hunger subsided almost immediately and I didn’t have the sharp cravings anymore. But either way, the side effects were not worth it to me at all."

• Sus...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 20, 2022

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I am now on week 3 and started two morning doses today. Week 1 I did not lose any weight. Last week I lost 2 lb. Even though the weight isn't falling off, I swear I feel like this is a miracle drug. I have been a huge sugar addict and food addict in general since I was in 5th grade (I'm 43 now). This is the first time ever I am not constantly thinking about food. Even when I've gone on diets and forced myself to not eat certain foods, I was still thinking about food and craving sweets. Those impulses have almost gone altogether. That's always been the hardest part for me. As far as side effects, the only one I've had is being very tired. I am prone to headaches and nausea, so went in expecting that, but I've been pleasantly surprised. I am 43, 5'2" and started at 215. My first goal is 44 pounds down by my 44th birthday, Feb. 11. Good luck to all of you in your journeys. :)"

• Mar...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 3, 2022

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "Only been on Contrave for 3 days, but have experienced severe diarrhea, exhaustion, and very foggy. My last dose was 24 hours ago, and I'm still experiencing these awful side effects. I'm not willing to feel like this, hoping the side effects will go away."

• Sta...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 21, 2021

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "Just started Contrave today and holy moly, I am very sick to my stomach. Like just laying here not wanting to move so I don't vomit. I'm tired, like extremely tired. I'll take another one when I wake up in the morning, hopefully this subsides because I'm 42 and have gained 30 pounds since November and I'm miserable, and have a terrible dislike for myself so I need this to work for me. I'm gonna power through hopefully! I'll update again to let you know if it gets better."

• tci...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 15, 2021

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I am on day 11. Age 50, female, 5'3", 175 lb. I have done nothing but push around the same 3 lb. I run a minimum of 3 miles per day on the elliptical at least 5-7 days a week, plus work out. I am not a crazy eater, I eat healthy, no soda, no fast food, no sweets, minimal dairy and carbs. I think my entire issue is menopausal. I struggle with drinking water, I know I do not drink the recommended amount. I also have a desk job and sit 8-10 hours a day, which is the reason I work out almost every day, trying to keep everything working! I was hoping that Contrave would help with the weight. My doctor has only prescribed it as take 1 pill every morning. No instructions for increase. My body feels so tired and muscles are sore, some headaches, some issues with insomnia, trouble concentrating at work. No energy. Does this get better? Has it even kicked in yet in less than 2 weeks? Feeling frustrated. Any tips?"

• Jos...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 3, 2021

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "The nausea, the headache, and very lethargic. I worked since I have significantly less craving, but I can't tolerate being in this horrible condition. This is not worth it. Every day when the medication wears off in the late afternoon, I will have a bad episode of nausea for around 1-2 hours, exactly 6 hours from my second dose daily, and it didn't get better after 2 weeks, so I decided to stop."

• Mar...
• February 14, 2020

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I hate to say that I would not recommend this med, Contrave. I started taking it 3 weeks ago and am now stopping. The side effects headaches, nausea, cramping, sweating, and lethargy are not worth it. True, I am losing weight, but I am also on W.W. I will admit, I don't crave anything, but mostly because I am focusing on the nausea and cramping. I am happy it works for some. As for me, I think I'll pass."

• Mon...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 20, 2019

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I started taking Contrave several months ago to help with weight loss. My doctor wanted me to use half the recommended dosage. Very quickly I started feeling like I had the flu (I did not). I was fatigued, lethargic, felt like I had a fever (the thermometer indicated not). So I stopped it. Starting an intermittent-style meal plan works much better."

• Sun...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 16, 2019

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "Been on it for a week now and lost like a lb each day, works great, I'm a little tired from time to time."

• Sun...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 19, 2019

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I have been taking Contrave for 6 weeks and have lost 16 pounds. For reference, I am 5’4” and weighed 165 lbs. This morning I weighed 149 lbs. Dry mouth and constipation are the only side effects I have now. I will get a headache if I miss a dose (I take 2 pills in AM and 2 in PM). I have to say this medication really works. It doesn’t kill my appetite, but no more binges or overeating. I have total control over my appetite now. Fast food was a big problem for me, but now I don’t really want it. Same with my favorite foods like carbs and pizza — one slice and I’m satisfied. This has really helped me lose weight without suffering through a strict dieting. I found tapering up my dosage over 4 weeks as recommended by the manufacturer really helped with the side effects. For me, the immediate side effects (foggy brain, headache, tiredness, anxiety) went away within a few days of increasing my dosage."

• Mel...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 10, 2019

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I try my best not to take Contrave at work. I get very dizzy and feel almost like I'm out of my body. Like now, I forgot to take it early this morning, so I took it later. I have 4 hours left of work, and after taking my medication, I feel like I can't walk 10 meters. I went on a walk to get fresh air, but Contrave makes you have a headache, out-of-body feeling, ears ringing, head feeling very heavy, and then I become very tired and feel almost not there."

• Bri...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 31, 2018

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I did fine with 1 pill in the AM and 1 in PM, but became extremely ill after increasing to 2 in the AM. The doctor told me to continue another week, but I continued to vomit and have dry heaves. So they told me to just do 1 twice a day. I continued on this for about 6 months and suffered from horrible headaches, constant nausea, lethargy, night sweats, hot flashes, depression, constipation, and the only food I could stomach was French fries and Sprite. I lost about 7 pounds the entire time I used it. I weaned myself off and feel like myself again. Of course, I’ve gained 10 pounds in the 2 months I’ve been off. Not worth the cost or the horrible way I felt while taking it. On a side note, my doctor told me it was safe and I could take it the rest of my life, I do not agree at all. It is a horrible medication."

• Ras...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 6, 2018

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "Started the 3rd week of Contrave yesterday, was initially down 2 lbs and then 3 down but back to only 2 lbs. Got a cold last week, so have not been eating as much, but still nothing major. Started back to the gym also. First week, tired, slightly dizzy, but that was it. Second week, forgot one night and took the pill after dinner (about 30 minutes later), and my stomach was upset all night, but no vomiting or diarrhea, which would have helped! Third week, took two pills in the AM and several hours later, extremely dizzy and funny headaches. Same thing today, and still nothing major. I am not really seeing any major change in appetite at all. I don't really feel like this pill is working, which is sad because my insurance did not cover it, and I had to pay $99.00 for these things."

• HBa...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 7, 2018

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I do not recommend this drug to anyone. I was on it for not even 2 months. Yes, I lost a few pounds, but it almost cost me my life. I became more and more depressed while taking this drug. I felt horrible about myself, and I would wake up every morning feeling more tired than when I went to bed. I would get angry over the smallest things. Finally, I reached the lowest of the low. If my husband had not been with me and stopped me, I would not be alive, and he would have lost his wife and our 5 kids would be without their mom. Please do not take this very risky medicine. Being overweight is far better than being dead from a weight loss medication."

• wor...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 20, 2018

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I am 5'4" and 212 lbs. I have always been curvy (usually weighing 155 lbs), but after baby #4, my body really changed, and cravings got out of control. Day 4 of taking 1 pill a day. I decided to cut the pill in half and take half in the AM and half in the afternoon, just to help my body adjust to the RX. The first 2 days, I felt very dizzy. I have felt the nausea for sure. I feel extremely tired in the afternoon, usually. On the plus side, I barely eat anything, and I can definitely say NO to food, even the sweet stuff. 4 days and 1.5 lbs down already. I will update every couple of weeks. Good luck to everyone. The struggle is real. Week #1 complete now, and total weight loss is 5.2 lbs. Still get nausea, headaches are minimal, and I still get fatigued. But happy to deal as long as I am losing weight."

• Mag...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 27, 2018

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "Beginning week three, I stopped. Completely. So, two weeks in, this is why: (keep in mind, each week calls for a higher dose) - Awful, AWFUL insomnia began during the second week. - word dropping, forgetfulness - hot flashes, sweating, always feeling too warm - lethargic, no energy - Dry mouth. I mean Sahara desert dry! (Interestingly, did not induce a craving for water). Did it curb cravings? Not sure. I don't think so, but if it did a little, it still is not worth the high degree of downside."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 25, 2018

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "The reviews made me skeptical. Most reviews cited nausea as a major side effect. The doctor assured me that only 1/4 of users experience this. Ok. First week nothing, almost even felt really happy! Week two increased dosage and felt extremely foggy, tired, nausea, and vision problems. No thank you! No amount of weight loss is worth feeling that awful. After again reading the literature, it looks like this drug would only help lose 5% of body weight over a year's time. That’s only ten pounds for a two hundred-pound person. They need to go re-tweak this drug. I feel horrible and I hope when I don’t take it tomorrow I won’t end up feeling worse yet."

• Can...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 17, 2018

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I’m starting week 2 and, like most, I’ve been so hesitant in taking Contrave. My cravings have gotten a lot better. I’ve been extremely tired every day, which lasts all morning. Dizziness comes and goes, but no nausea or even headaches. I’ve felt like my head was in a cloud. I did have constipation, but then, out of nowhere, I’ve had diarrhea. I got on the scale and lost 3 lbs, but not sure if that was because of the diarrhea - I hope not. I’m going to continue and follow the dosage, but I’ll be honest, I’m scared as anything, but I’m also desperate to lose weight. Before Contrave, I was constantly eating all day long, and the weight just kept adding on. I’ve tried so many diets, and nothing ever really worked, so I’m hoping Contrave is the one."

• Gin...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 14, 2018

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "So day 1 is in the books, and boy was it a weird one. I took my pill in the AM. About an hour later, I felt dizzy, out of it, and very tired (which lasted all day), slight headache too. I do notice that I still get hungry, but it’s controllable now, and when I eat, I don’t overeat. I rightly ate about half as much as I normally would. I just hope this fatigue goes away."

• Jen...
• March 12, 2018

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I've been on Contrave for about 6 weeks and have lost 12 lbs. I started losing weight week 3. I was a little worried about trying Contrave after reading the reviews here. The side effects were/are mild for me. Mild nausea for the first 4-5 days each week with the change in dosage. I take the doses with a meal, which helps prevent nausea. I also found eating a banana would help with nausea. It did make me tired, which has mostly gone away. By week 5, I was feeling really good and started exercising. I've had some pretty disturbing dreams that I wake up from occasionally. It does cause some constipation, but there are plenty of ways to deal with that. The only side effect that I have a hard time with is I get hot/sweaty with any type of moderate activity. I still have to make the right decision with food, but it's not a crazy struggle anymore. It has not eliminated my hunger, but it has reduced it. I have no problem walking away from sweets or fatty foods, which were my weakness before."

• Ton...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 4, 2018

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I started taking Contrave in February 2018. I am on week 3, taking 2 pills in the morning and 1 in the evening. The first week I had dry mouth, aggravating headaches, and it seemed like I craved everything. The headaches were not real bad, just enough to aggravate, so I took Tylenol, and that did help. In the second week, I started with diarrhea, very nauseous, and dizzy. My appetite, however, has improved. I feel full all day long, and the cravings have stopped. Now, on week 3, I feel HORRIBLE. I still have the diarrhea, nausea feeling, dizziness, but also very tired and down in the dumps. The past 2 days, all I have wanted to do is lay in bed and sleep. I don’t feel like doing anything and am kind of down in the dumps. I hate feeling like this and don’t know what to do. I don’t know if I need to just continue taking it and see if these side effects stop or just stop taking it altogether. I have lost 3 lbs since taking it, that’s the only good thing. I just don’t know what to do!"

• Bel...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 25, 2018

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I was given Contrave last June, but it did not work. A few weeks later, I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer, so I'm wondering if that is why it was not working. After surgery and five months of chemotherapy, I am pleased to say I am now in remission. So now I'm cancer-free, I am thinking of trying Contrave again. I put on more weight during my illness, so I think losing some weight may help me feel better. I have no energy and tire easily. If anyone knows if cancer stops this drug from working, I'd like to know. Thanks."

• Bel...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 25, 2018

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I was given Contrave last June, but it did not work. A few weeks later, I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer, so I'm wondering if that is why it was not working. After surgery and five months of chemotherapy, I am pleased to say I am now in remission. So now I'm cancer-free, I am thinking of trying Contrave again. I put on more weight during my illness, so I think losing some weight may help me feel better. I have no energy and tire easily. If anyone knows if cancer stops this drug from working, I'd like to know. Thanks."

• Gir...
• February 5, 2018

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I've been taking Contrave since the middle of August 2017. I'm 22 years old, 5'3" and my starting weight was 204.1 lb. Today, February 5, 2018, I am down to 169 lb. That's a 35 lb (in a little under 6 months)! I'm so excited! I absolutely love Contrave and have had NO side effects whatsoever from the beginning, other than being a little tired when I first started it. Although Contrave has done wonders for me, it is NOT a magic pill! It takes a lot of self-discipline and you MUST cut calories and work out (but Contrave definitely changes your brain chemicals and helps you say 'no' more easily to cravings, eating out, etc.). I'm typically eating around 1000 calories per day and run for 30 minutes, 4 times per week. My goal weight is 123 lbs, so I'm hoping to make it there! Will update at a year :) Hope this helps!"